Tupelo Civic Ballet to present ‘Paquita’ and international dances

Civic Ballet’s upcoming show will take its audience around the world.
The performance includes the third act of the Russian classic “Paquita,” as well as Civic Ballet repertoire choreographed by artistic director Jan Dijkwel.
“The third act of ‘Paquita’ is a celebration, a wedding scene. It’s very upbeat, very festive, and a wonderful complement to Valentine’s Day,” Dijkwel said. “The other act, we’ll take the audience on a tour of different places in Europe.”
The music and dance styles of Ireland, Hungary and Spain, to name a few, are highlighted, as well as a piece based on the music of Bach.
“I really tried to bring out the mathematical structure in Bach’s music in dance,” he said.
Dijkwel will also introduce each piece.
“I want to educate the audience, to help them understand the vision I have as an artist,” he said. “It will be an interesting for the advanced and educated eye as well as the untrained eye.”
Risa Nakagawa of Japan’s Tottori City Ballet and Mikhail Ilyin of American Ballet Theatre are guest artists for the show.
For dancers Anna Avery Edwards, 16, and Caitlin Milne, 18, the set is some of the most fun and interesting ballet they’ve ever performed.
“It’s usually more somber, but this is very upbeat music,” Edwards said. “It’s all very celebratory.”
Ballet audiences will be in for a surprise, Milne said.
“(The audience) should expect the unexpected. It’s not your traditional ballet that you’re used to seeing in Tupelo,” she said.
Edwards agreed.
“We’ve created a ballet for the people,” she said. “There are a lot of styles incorporated into one show, so we’re very excited.”
sheena.barnett@journalinc.com